Work areas

The problem of small arms proliferation is multidimensional– that is why such a broad array of organisations around the world are so concerned about it. On this page you will find the latest news and resources on some of the hot topics for groups working against small arms and light weapons.

Latest news

Rwanda: Religious leaders discuss peace initiatives
Weapons collection and destruction

Fifty religious leaders form the African Great Lakes region met in Kigali (Rwanda) on 23-24 March and pledged to play a leading role in peacebuilding, reconciliation and disarmament.

Yemen: Gun violence prevention campaign in schools
Weapons collection and destruction

Children in 500 Yemeni schools have participated on peace and disarmament training courses held by IANSA member Dar Al Salaam (The House of Peace).

Argentina: Disarm Domestic Violence at the end of the world
Women, gender and guns

In Ushuia (Argentina), the southernmost city in the world, more than 90 women community leaders, government officials, journalists and students participated in an event to support the Disarm Domestic Violence campaign on 29 March.

Sierra Leone: Arms collections and border controls
Border controls, Weapons collection and destruction

Gun collections and destructions, border control measures and firearms control policies were discussed by the members of the Sierra Leone National Commission on Small Arms during a two-day retreat in Makeni on 11-12 March.

Sweden: Comics book on Swedish arms trade
International trade controls

The new reality-based comic book “A Helping hand” takes readers inside the world of Swedish arms exports and the global arms trade.

Latest resources

Gender, Peace and Security Update from PRIO
Women, gender and guns
The first ‘Gender, Peace and Security Update (GPS)’ for 2012 from the Peace Research Institute Oslo, features PRIO researcher and Deputy Director Inger Skjelsbæk’s new book ‘The Psychology of War Rape: Studies from Bosnia and Herzegovina and the launch of the US Peace Research Endowment'.
NGO Presentations at the PoA PrepCom, 21 March 2012
UN Small Arms Process

Representatives of civil society spoke in the afternoon plenary session of the preparatory committee (PrepCom) for the 2012 Review Conference (RevCon) on 21 March 2012.

The importance of international cooperation and assistance to improve stockpile management in Africa
Stockpile management and security, UN Small Arms Process

This article was written by Félix Kokou Aklavon, member of the International Advisory Council (IAC) and the Togolese Action Network on Small Arms (RASALT) for the Small Arms Monitor during the preparatory committee for the 2012 Review Conference on the UN Programme of Action on Small Arms (PoA).

The Arms Flyers: Commercial Aviation, Human Rights, and the Business of War and Arms
International trade controls

The report presents (Part I and Part II) a series of cases - from the 1980s to present - that illustrate and document the continuous involvement of aviation companies in the business of war, namely in the arms supply chains and also in covert operations, all of which have often resulted in consequent severe violations of human rights, from Nicaragua to Armenia, from D.R. Congo to Afghanistan and Rwanda.

What should the UN Programme of Action PrepCom 2012 Achieve?
UN Small Arms Process

The purpose of the PrepCom is to lay the groundwork for the RevCon, 27 August – 7 September 2012. The PrepCom is expected to produce a draft agenda for the RevCon i.e. which solutions to the problem of gun violence are open for discussion.